THE INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF THE ELDERLY PERSONS IN IGUEBEN L.G.A, EDO STATE,

NIGERIA

BY

IJIEKHUAMHEN, OSAZE PATRICKFSS/LIS/07/11414

DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCEAMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY,

EKPOMA

NOVEMBER, 2011

THE INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF THE ELDERLY PERSONS IN IGUEBEN L.G.A, EDO STATE,

NIGERIA

BY

IJIEKHUAMHEN, OSAZE PATRICKFSS/LIS/07/11414

A PROJECT WRITTEN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND SUMMITED TO THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE, AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY, EKPOMA

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR

OF SCIENCE (B.SC), IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE, AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY, EKPOMA.

NOVEMBER, 2011

CERTIFICATION

We, the undersigned certify that this work was carried out by Ijiekhuamhen, Osaze Patrick in the department of library and information science.

………………………… ………………………..MR E.N.O ADIMORAH (Supervisor) DATE

………………………….. ………………………DR. AKANDE S.O(HEAD OF DEPARTMENT) DATE

……………………………. ……………………….EXTERNAL SUPERVISOR DATE

DEDICATION

This research work is dedicated to the most high God, and my parents Mr and Mrs Mike Ijiekhuamhen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am most grateful to the Most High God whom by His grace and mercy I’m graduating in good health.

To my family members among whom are Mr and Mrs Mike Ijiekhuamhen, Osaremen Ijiekhuamhen, Osagie Ijiekhuamhen, Ehis Ijiekhuamhen and my caring little brother Samuel Ijiekhuamhen for their love, care, moral and financial support. My uncles and aunties are not left out.

I wish to particularly thank Mr. E. N. O., Adimorah whom I’m fortunate to have as my supervisor, who has taken the pains to go through my work and make the necessary corrections.

My Appreciation also goes to the Authors and Researchers whose work I have used, Mr Olayinka Ajomale, Ageing in Nigeria- Current State, Social and Economic Implications and Respondents from the three selected towns in Igueben Local Government Area.

Finally, to all the Lecturers of the Department of Library and Information Science, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. My friends among whom are Inegbenoise Thompson Abudulai, Adoga Sunday, Onemolease Blessing Obehi, Enoma Osas Osagie, Omorodion Orue, Mc-gregor Omogbelenghan, Class Rep to mention but a few.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of Contents

Abstract

CHAPTER ONE--- INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study1.2 Statement of the Problem1.3 Research Question1.4 Purpose of the Study1.5 Scope and Delimitation1.6 Significance of the Study1.7 Operational Definition of Terms CHAPTER TWO--- REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 The Elderly Person’s2.2 Information Needs of the Elderly

2.3 Information Demand of the Elderly2.4 Information Use of the Elderly2.5 Information Communication Technologies for the

Elderly2.6 Factors militating against the availability, accessibility

and use of Information resources for the Elderly.

CHAPTER THREE--- RESEARCH DESIGN AND PROCEDURE

3.1 Introduction3.2 Research Design3.3 Sources of Data Gathering3.4 Population of the Study3.5 Research Instrument3.6 Validation of the Instrument3.7 Administration of Research Instrument

CHAPTER FOUR--- DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Characteristics of Respondents4.2 Data Analysis and Presentation of Results4.3 Discussion of Findings

CHAPTER FIVE--- SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of the Study5.2 Conclusion5.3 Recommendations

References

Appendix

ABSTRACT

Research on the Information Seeking Behaviour of the Elderly was carried out in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria to find out their information needs, information demand, information use, information behaviour, the Information Communication Technology made available to the elderly and the factors militating against the accessibility and availability of information infrastructure and resources for the elderly person’s in Nigeria. The survey method was adopted to collect data and hundred (100) questionnaires were administered to a sample size of a hundred (100) elderly and oral interview was used for fifty (50) illiterate elderly. The research found out that the information needs of the elderly are very much like their younger counterpart which includes; needs for information on health conditions, information on life decisions, farming, reading, traveling, recreational interest such as gardening, pension/ finance and government matters. The elderly demand for information to meet their needs through; listening to radio, discussions from family members, relatives and friends, reading books/ newspapers and magazines, visit to libraries and information centers, internet, visiting a physician, herbalist and traditional healers. The elderly use information to know what and how to do and operate some modern technologies, get facts about something, understand a particular situation, confirm another item of information. Information Communication Technologies made available for the elderly include; Internet services, smart

phones, electronic gadgets like CD ROMS and tape recorders, radio and television, computer etc. The factors militating against the accessibility and availability of information infrastructure and resources include; high cost of internet usage, lack of maximum ease to access the library, inequality in the provision of reading materials, lack of adequate large print publishers, personal factors such as the nature of disability and inadequate finances. Recommendations made include; further research on the information seeking behaviour of the elderly, the government should encourage large print publisher or establish such printing establishments, internet services should be rendered at a cheaper rate, programmes that will interest the elderly should be included in daily broadcast over the radio and television, newspaper and magazines, prompt payment of pension allowances to enable the elderly purchase information equipments or gadgets needed.

WORD COUNT: THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY (320)

INDEX TERMS

The elderly

Information needs Information demand

Information use

Information Seeking Behaviour

Information Communication Technology

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Information Seeking Behaviour deals with the psychological behaviour of the seeker. It is the individual information needs and the factors that affect the individual responses to the perception of needs, the factors that give rise to an individual perception of needs, the factors that affect the individual response to the perception of needs, the processes and actions involved in the response. (Wilson, 1997) Troup (1985), conducted a research on the information needs of people aged 50 and above in Scotland to know the areas these target group need more information. He used a questionnaire survey and his study discovered that the most frequent needs of the elderly are money, housing, leisure opportunities and health matters. Information Seeking Behaviour involves the searching, locating, retrieving and using of information (Karunarathna, 2008). The elderly sought printed resources for hobby- related information seeking. For answers to medical and financial questions, they tended to look primarily to the interpersonal sources. Interpersonal sources includes physicians, pharmacist, other professionals, family members and friends. When it comes to making informed decisions about their health care, the majority adhere to a physician- Centered Care Model (Campbell and Nolfi 2005, n.p.). Elderly tend to turn to their doctors as their primary source of medical information.

(Gladden, 2000) conducted a study to determine how rural older adults and their families gathered health information to make medical decisions during times of transition. Many of the

elderly interviewed expressed “Being the object of the decision making and feeling marginalized and peripheral” (Gladden, 2000). Gladden’s studies found that the elderly population looked to direct communication from their physicians. When these patients did not receive visit from doctors, they expressed feeling isolated and alienated even when other types of health care workers visited them. In addition, the elderly expressed feeling that decisions were being made for them and they were not provided with enough information regarding their health. To this day, most libraries has not being able to meet the desired information needs of the elderly as a result of the non challant attitude of government, library staffs and the society at large towards the upkeep and equity of the older persons.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There has being gross inadequacies in information provision to meet the information needs of the elderly in Nigeria. The elderly on this ground have been marginalized alongside their middle age counterparts. Ajomale (2007), clearly stated in his work, when he identified that “older persons in Nigeria suffer a lot of information hardship in an increasingly hostile, competitive and intolerant Society”. He also went further to recommend the conducting of a research to determine the reading interest and information needs of the identified groups which will help in planning adequate library and information services for the elderly.Obviously, these problems still exists as there has been:

Lack of adequate knowledge of the Information needs of the elderly people in Nigeria.

The problem of how the elderly people demand for information.

The way in which the information they get are being put to use.

The problem of determining the elderly information behaviour.

Lack of adequate modern information communication technologies which aid the availability and accessibility of information for the older Persons.

The elderly like their middle age counterparts have diverse needs and wants which they seek to satisfy. Fullner and Majunder , (1991) states that “the ability to obtain and use information about any subject gives a person the opportunity to choose a path from many alternatives instead of being limited to a few perhaps unwanted or unfeasible choices”.

These problems have been left untouched, that is the reason why there has being gross inadequacies in information provision to meet the information needs of the elderly in Nigeria.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

For the purpose of this research the following questions have been formulated:

What are the information needs of the elderly people in Nigeria?

How do the elderly persons in Nigeria demand information?

To what use do the older persons in Nigeria put the information obtained?

What are the elderly information behaviours? What are the information communications

technologies made available for the older persons in Nigeria to aid their accessibility of information?

What factors militate against the availability and accessibility of information infrastructures and resources?

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This study tends to find out the following:

The information needs of the elderly people in Nigeria especially Igueben Local Government Area.

How the elderly persons in Nigeria demands for information to satisfy their information needs.

The use to which the elderly persons in Nigeria put the information obtained.

The information behaviour of the elderly. The Modern Information Communication

Technologies made available for the elderly persons in Nigeria to satisfy their information needs.

The factors militating against the elderly person’s use of information infrastructures and resources.

1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The study covers three selected towns/ villages which includes; Igueben, Ebelle and Ewossa communities all in Igueben Local Government Area. It is limited to these selected areas as a result of financial incapability involved in the research and lack of adequate time to enable the coverage of all the towns in the Local Government Area.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings of this research when properly utilized will in turn be useful in planning of libraries and information services for the elderly. It will also help in providing independence in information seeking for the elderly such as using variety of methods to access information. To the libraries and information centers, provision of adequate information resources for the elderly will be met as various information resources that aid accessibility will be highlighted. Finally, it will also be of great significant to publishers of elderly information resources in the provision of not only textbooks but the inclusion of reference and recreational reading materials for the elderly as well as games.

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION TERMS

Elderly Person’s: According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, elderly person’s are people who are old, of great age, experience and authority. The age specified for elderly person’s is 65 years and above.

Information: The word information is derived from a Latin word Informare which means “give form to” Information can be defined as already processed data used for intelligent decision making.

Information Need: An innate desire that disturbs an individual leading to a search for information.

Information Demand: The act of requesting for information which maybe oral or written.

Information Use: The application of collected information so as to satisfy a need.

Information Seeking: Information seeking is a conscious effort to acquire information in response to a need or gap in your knowledge. (Case, 2002).

Information Seeking Behaviour: This is the user attitude to the information they require.

Information Communication Technology: (Adelowo, 1977, 2002), define Information Communication Technology, as a means of collecting, storing, retrieving and disseminating information/ data electronically. It is the acquisition, processing, storing and dissemination of vocal pictorial, textual and numeric information by a micro- electronic base combination of computing and telecommunication, (Lucey, 1995).

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter aims at reviewing literatures that are related to the study. The following concepts are related to the study are therefore reviewed.

The elderly persons Information needs of the elderly

Information demand of the elderly Information use of the elderly Information seeking behaviour of the elderly. Information Communication Technologies for the

elderly to meet their information needs. Factors militating against the accessibility and

availability of information resources for the elderly.

These concepts related to the study will be therefore reviewed extensively.

2.1 THE ELDERLY PERSONS

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, elderly person’s are people who are old, of great age, experience and authority. The age specified for elderly person’s is 65 years and over. It is well known that the world’s population is ageing, with more developed regions leading this trend. This is due to increasing survival to older ages as well as smaller numbers of birth (United Nations Population Division, 1998 Revision). The support of this ever-expanding elderly population has become of increasing concern. Nigeria with a population of 140 million (NPC 2006) is the most populated nation in Africa and the ninth in the World. (UN, 2005 report). Life expectancy at birth stands at 51.6%. The population growth rate (2000-2005) is 2.5% with 5% of the total population is aged 65 and over.

In the western world, the share of elderly people within the population is growing fast (e.g., Pettigrew, 1999, Wicks 2001). In Finland, the share of people aged 65 or over is at the moment approaching 17% of the population, but it is estimated to reach 27% by the year 2040, (Statistics Finland 2007a).

In the United States the proportion of people aged 65 or over increased from 4% in 1900 to about 12% in 2000. In 1900, only

about 3 million of the nation’s citizens had reached 65 years. By 2000, the number of senior citizens had increased to about 35 million. Population experts in the United States estimate that more than 50 million Americans about 17% of the population will be 65 or older in 2020.

The Rica study (Epstein, 1980) identified three groups of particularly poorly informed elderly people. This was mainly due to the fact that the information distribution system relied on people’s ability to get to the central points where the information (leaflets) was available and all three groups had restricted mobility. However, it was found that when access problems were reduced, that is when information was presented on television, radio or in newspapers, the disadvantages of the immobile elderly people disappeared. The worst informed were very often seen by a social worker, district nurse, health visitors, or home help. As Epstein pointed out, such people were those that were less able to cope, but her findings suggested that care workers could play a more informative role. Social clubs for the elderly people and GP surgeries were found to be poor providers of information for elderly people. Elderly persons with hearing problems were no less informed about benefits and services than those without. However, elderly people with a visual impairment were found to be less informed than those without.

In some parts of Nigeria, most frail elderly people lived in the community supported by family and friends (Age Concern, 2001). Due to the cumulative effects of ageing and the existence of environmental barriers, elderly people can spend increasing amounts of time in their own homes (Clarke et al, 1998). Often, the persons who care for the elderly people are themselves pensioners who are likely to be frail, with limited and decreasing ability to provide care.

The older persons constitute the poorest group in Nigeria society. The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the Nigerian government has little or no consideration for them. There is general lack of plan and policies designed for our older population. Ordinarily, policies are designed with a youthful society in mind. From this point on ward, policies for the older persons, younger persons and those in between must be designed with an ageing society in mind, where very soon, every third individual will be over the age of 65. (Senator Iroegbu, 2007).

Some examples of individuals who became famous in their old age include:

Ethel Percy Andrus: Retired School Principal who founded AARP at 74 in 1958.

Harry Bernstein: Author who published his first book, “The Invisible Wall” at 96 in 2007.

Jeanne Calment: Longest confirmed lifespan and the oldest person of France.

Ann Nixon Cooper: Who at age 106 made national news during the 2008 US presidential election for voting for Barack Obama. She was mentioned in Obama’s victory Speech.

Luigi Cornaro: His classic the Art of Living long or Discourses on the Sober Life.

Granny D: Political Activitist who ran for public office at the age of 94.

James Fisher: Blacksmith who returned from retirement to become the first person over the age of 100 to achieve the ACA qualification.

Enrico Dandolo: Who led the infamous fourth crusade in his 80s.

Buster Martin: Said to be the oldest worker in the UK at age 109, Sadie and Bessie Delany: Civil Rights Activitist.

2.2 INFORMATION NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY

Information is data that has been given meaning by way of relational connection. This meaning can be useful, but does not have to be. Information can also be defined as already processed data used for quality decision making. (Gene Bellinger, et al, 2004). Needs according to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary 6th ed. (2001), is “to require something because they are essential or very important, not just because you would like to have them”.

According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, information need “is an individual or group’s desire to locate and obtain information to satisfy a conscious or unconscious need”. ‘Information’ and ‘need’ are inseparable. Information need on the other hand, is the hunger, thirst and quest for information to satisfy particular needs. Information needs of the elderly posses a great problem as not much has been written concerning the information needs of the elderly world wide. In Nigeria the case is worst as some few researchers who embark on other aspects make recommendations for research to be carried out on the information needs of the elderly.

The information needs of disabled elderly people and their carers have perhaps been even more neglected. One of such

major studies was carried out by Epstein (1980), of the Research Institute of Consumer Affairs (RICA). He examined the information on benefits and services available to elderly people in England and how they used that information. At the time, Epstein Stated: “….there has been no comprehensive or detailed study of the information needs among different elderly groups across the Country and no research attention to the information needs of care workers serving the elderly”. Like the RICA study, most subsequent studies have focused on specific areas of information needs of elderly people in particular areas of the UK(e.g. Troup, 1985, Tinker et al., 1993, who also reviewed work by Kocher, 1989; Mullings, 1989; Roberts et al., 1991; Steele, 1990; and Tester and Meredith, 1987).

In order to discover the topics on which elderly people seek information, researchers have obtained data on enquiries to organizations that provide information to elderly people and have asked the elderly people themselves on what things they feel they need more information.

In an Age concerned study (Tinker et al., 1993), obtained information on the enquiries made by the elderly people to 18 local and national organizations producing and providing information. Five topics of enquiry emerged as the most common:

Social Security Benefits and Entitlements to them Health (Including Specialist areas like Arthritis and

Dementia) Residential and Nursing Homes care and how to pay

for it Support and care for People at home Housing

Tinker et al. (1993) also felt the elderly people take those enquiries that they consider appropriate to formal information providers.

The RICA study (Epstein, 1980) included personal interviews with 900 people aged 65 and over in 6 areas in England. Interviewees were not asked directly what information they needed or wanted, but asked what their most worrying problems had been in the past year. The most common types of problems were health and financial, together accounting for 62 percent of all problems.

In a Study of the information needs of people aged 50 and over in Scotland, Troup (1985) conducted a questionnaire survey including a question to discover the broad areas on which respondents wanted more information. Just over 600 were returned and 23% of respondents said that they had no need for further information. For those that said they needed more information, the most frequent areas were money/ housing (24% of responses), leisure opportunities (21%) and health matters (21%). Troup (1985) also carried out series of group meetings involving some 40 people over the age of 50 in Scotland. She found general agreement among the participants that there was a great need for information for elderly people on a wide variety of topics.

In the research carried out by Tinker et al. (1993), fifty (50) elderly Interviewees (Age 60 and over) were presented with various situations where information needs could arise and where there may be uncertainty about what to do. In each of 5 towns, half of the people interviewed were judged to be “In Touched” with information services (attended an Age Concern Centre) and half were “Not in Touch” (No involvement with clubs, day centre, voluntary work or additional church activities). What information was required, where it has been

obtained, and whether it was adequate was determined for each situation experienced by an Interviewee, otherwise a situation was treated as a “What If’ scenario. It was found that, in 6 months preceding the interview, the elderly people were most likely to have experienced or thought about becoming less capable (48% of Interviewees). This was followed by the practical domestic problems of getting repairs done in the home (34%), buying something for the home (32%), and finding help with the garden (24%). Ninety three percent (93%) said that their needs have been met when they had sought information about a specific concern.

The findings showed that, in general, the elderly populations interviewed were fairly confident that their information needs could be satisfied as they arose. Tinker et al. (1993) stated that this does not mean that they did not have information needs; rather the elderly people “do not necessarily perceive these needs for themselves”. The areas where one- fifth or more of the sample interviewed did not know where they would go for more information if needed were:

“Legal Rights” (42%) “If wanted to know income and benefits entitled to”

(20%) “If lonely and depressed” (20%) “If looking after someone and unable to cope” (20%)

There was also evidence that when information was given, it was welcome. The “in touch” group had the same information needs as the “not in touch”, however, those “not in touch” tended to have less physical disabilities so were able to seek out their own sources of information rather than rely on an Age Concern Centre.

Williamson, (1995), found out in his research of 202 older persons, that the most important information needs were health, income and finance followed by recreation, government policies for them, consumer and housing/ accommodation. This is in line with the findings of Todd (1984) that health and finance are the most worrying problem the elderly seeks information. However, the older persons who maybe in vocational training institute have health and income and finance as their important needs. Recreation was not left out as it includes listening to talking books supplied by organizations others includes government issues such as elections, consumer, travel and employment, legal information and local transport information.

Generally, the main information needs for elderly people are concerned with the following:

Finance (especially benefits) Health Housing Accommodations and Support and Services at home. Government Issues (Election Results and Government

Policies) Employments Legal Information Local Transport Information

2.3 INFORMATION DEMAND OF THE ELDERLY

Demand is an urgent requirement geared towards satisfying a particular need. Demand is when someone request for

information which may not be what he/she need. (Adegboye, 1992). Information needs and demand are two different concepts which move simultaneously, where there is a need, there must be a demand and when a person demands for information, it means he/she wants to satisfy an information need. The elderly have a lot of information needs which prompted their demand for information. The information needs discussed earlier on are factors which influences the ways in which the elderly persons demand for information. (Olayinka Ajomale, 2007), the lack of state provision of elder care in Nigeria requires the family to provide for the needs, and for the survival of the older persons. Family members provide food, shelter, clothing, drugs and other basic necessities as well as running errands for the older ones. The elderly in Nigeria lives in their adult children’s homes and receive care. On the other hand, they support their children in taking care of their grand children. When they lived in their own homes, grand children or other relatives often live with them to give support such as washing clothes and dishes, running errands, cooking meals and taking general care of them. The elderly demand for information about their health by asking a physician, nurses and family members. Family members usually support their elderly ones financially. The elderly in Nigeria gets their legal information by asking a family lawyer or legal practitioner friends. Elderly generally in Nigeria in the course of demanding for information depends greatly on their adult’s children whom they lived with as well as friends around them. They also depended on books/ magazines, watching of television, listening to radio/ records, hobbies, craft, sporting activities and shopping, family members are widely used by the elderly as places where information is demanded.

2.4 INFORMATION USE OF THE ELDERLY

Information Seeking Behaviour encompasses information need, information demand and information use. Having discussed the information need and demand of the elderly, the research work will not be completed without discussing the use to which the elderly put the information they demanded. Therefore, the elderly put into use the information they demanded so that the need can be satisfied and accomplished. Brenda, Dervin and Robert Taylor proposed eight categories that describe how people generally use information. The information maybe used to;

Develop a Content Know what and how to do something Get the facts about something Understand a particular situation Confirm another item of Information Project Future Events Motivate or Sustain Personal Involvement Develop Relationships; Enhance Status, Reputation or

Personal Fulfillment.

This category also applies to the elderly as they seek and demand for Information like their younger or middle aged counterparts. The elderly put into effective use the information they demanded to satisfy a particular information need. The information they get from a physician or nurses are used to carter better for their health and they know newly available drugs in the market to treat their illness. They get finances from family members and friends, the elderly get current news by listening to radio and watching TV, such news keep the elderly informed about current happenings around them. The elderly uses the legal information they get to keep them informed about their legal rights and government policies for them.

Generally, the elderly in Nigeria put into effective use the information they get to satisfy their information needs.

2.5 INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF THE ELDERLY

Information seeking behaviour refers to the way people search for and utilize information. In 2000, Wilson described information seeking behaviour as the totality of human behaviour in relation to sources and channels of information, including both active and passive information- seeking, and Information use. He described purposive seeking of information as a consequence of a need to satisfy some goals. Information seeking behaviour is the micro- level of behaviour employed by the searcher in interacting with information systems of all kinds, be it between the seeker and the system, or the pure method of creating and following up on a search. Information Seeking Behaviour involves the searching, locating, retrieving and using of information (Karunarathna, 2008). The elderly sought printed resources for hobby- related information seeking. For answers to medical and financial questions, they tended to look primarily to the interpersonal sources. Interpersonal sources include physicians, pharmacist, herbalist and traditional healers, other professionals, family members and friends. When it comes to making informed decisions about their health care, the majority adhere to a physician- Centered Care Model (Campbell and Nolfi 2005, n.p.). Elderly tend to turn to their doctors as their primary source of medical information

Information Seeking Behaviour is the user altitude to information.A variety of theories of information behaviour – e.g. Zipf’s principle of least efforts, Brenda Dervin’s principle of Sense Making, Elfreda Chatman’s principle of Life in the RoundInformation seeking behaviour encompass information need, information demand and information use. The elderly has a lot

of information needs like their younger counterparts, they demand for information to meet their diverse needs. The elderly also put the information obtained into maximum use. The elderly demand for health information by visiting a physician, they also demand for information by asking friends, relatives and younger members of the society.

2.6 INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE ELDERLY TO MEET THEIR INFORMATION NEEDS

(Adelowo, 1977, 2002), define ICT as a means of collecting, storing, retrieving and disseminating information/ data electronically. It is the acquisition, processing, storing and dissemination of vocal pictorial, textual and numeric information by a micro- electronic base combination of computing and telecommunication, (Lucey, 1995).

(John Leland, 2009), said that, increasingly, many older people who lived alone are not truly alone. They are being watched by flurry of new technologies which enables their doctors and neighbours know what is going on around them, these technologies are designed to enable them to live independently and avoid expensive trips to the emergency room or nursing homes.

Examples Joseph Hayduk, 86 years of age, who suffers from a congestive heart failure, transmits his clinical vital signs everyday via a “HomMed Health Monitoring System” to a

Meridian Home Care Office where a registered nurse tracks his health.

Bertha Branch, 78 years of age, discovered the power of a system called eNeighbour when she fell to the floor of her Philadelphia apartment late one night without her emergency alert pendant and could not phone for help. A wireless sensor under Ms. Branch’s bed detected that she had gotten up. Motion detectors in her bedroom and bathroom registered that she had not left the area in her usual pattern and relayed that information to a central monitoring system, prompting a call to her telephone to ask if she was alright. When she did not answer, that incited more calls to a neighbour, to the building manager and finally 911, which dispatched firefighters to break through her door. She had been on the floor less than an hour when they arrived. Ms. Branch, who has severe diabetes and heart disease, said she could not live on her own without the system, built by a Minnesota company called Health Sense. Technologies like eNeighbour come with great promise of improved care at lower cost and the backing of large companies like Intel and General Electric.

Philip Marshall, 85 years of age, another Meridian health patient, uses a system tied to his cell phone to help him remember his medication. Mr. Marshall has HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE and MACULAR DEGENERATION and takes 10 pills a day. He cannot see a clock or work the buttons on most phones, so he uses a Jitterbug, a phone with big buttons and limited functions. Drug compliance is one of the biggest problems for the elderly, especially those with memory loss. Until Mr. Marshall got a Meridian’s Jitterbug system, his daughter Melanie, 55, said she had to leave work several times a month to help him with his drugs. “I’m answering the phone in meetings”, she said. “He’d forget whether he took a pill or whether he was supposed to take a pill.”

The future of these technologies, and the terabytes they gather, can involve unprecedented information about the whereabouts and well-being of older people. In a program with Intel, Dr. Kaye is combing motion data of patterns that indicate the onset of dementia, years before the shows up on cognitive tests. But until there is more research – and reimbursement- the technologies’ ultimate impact remains unknown. Dr. Kaye Said “We need to use what we have more creatively. It’s all cool- but is it going to be helpful?”

ICT is daily transforming various aspects of human life, commerce, industry, education, defense communications, banking and finance to mention but a few, because of its versatility and acceptance remarkable improvement abound in the use of ICT for such other functions, such as

Learning and feedback Exploring data Teaching Problem stimulation and solving Carrying out research Access causes of instruction

Which are application on such human developmental, competencies, skills and practice like:

Creative and expressive communication Programming efficiently and relevantly Micro Electronic Control Independent Study Learning to learn which lead to life long learning.

The classification of ICT according to Azeez, (2002), in his research depends on the features that are found to beneficial

for categories of disabled elderly people. He therefore classified ICT as follows:

Audio Media: They are media that appeal to the sense of learning only which include drum sets, bells, radio, telephone, walkie- talkie e.t.c

Visual Media: This consists of media that appeal to the visual sense although most of the elderly have bad sight due to their age.

Electronic Media: Media that requires direct current (D.C) or alternate current (A.C) to operate. They are projectors.

Computer: It is useful for both academic and administrative purposes.

Education Broadcast: An education media that is very important and useful in distant learning programmes.

Internet: It is a network of computer networks. It provides services that have educational values and which serves useful purposes.

Computer-based brain training programmes used by the elderly can rejuvenate their memories by up to ten years; research has shown in the study of new computer software for the elderly that more than 500 men and women over 65 years were asked to get to grips either with brain sharpening software or a more conventional educational programme. Both groups showed improvement after 40 hours but those using the brain fitness training programmes, created by U.S Film Posit Science, performed best. Computer games were also said to be good in improving the memory of the elderly. Elderly people play computer games to boost their memory and remembrance capacity.

In terms of Internet Usage, elderly people over 65 still lag behind their younger counterparts in internet usage in Nigeria. The number of elderly online is expected to swell from 14 million in 2000 to more than 27 million by 2003. According to Internet Market Research Film Jupiter Media Metrix. The elderly make use of the internet in solving some of their information needs.

2.7 FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST THE ACCESSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR THE ELDERLY

Accessibility and Availability is both Defined by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 6th ed. (2001) giving the same meaning as “Within Reach”. While Atinmo (2000) in her write up gave the two terms different meanings. Availability in her papers is used to mean “The state of being physically present, within easy reach of users” while Accessibility “Refers to the resources being effectively and independently used by the elderly”. The sighted elderly person find it easy to access information materials and they are readily made available when needed by them, for the elderly who are visually impaired the reverse is the case as the inability to use their eyes effectively could not make information resources available and easily accessible to them, because their information material also has to be in special format such as large prints or recorded cassettes tapes. Several factors can affect the communication that the elderly have with health care professionals, or their access to information. McKenzie (2002) identified three kinds of barriers to communication with health practitioners. Those originating with either the information provider or the seeker, and those that might originate with both the provider and the seeker. Factors creating barriers includes: the use of medical

terminology, lack of communication skills, arrogant attitudes among doctors as well as, lack of time (Glenton, 2002; Lyons et al, 2002; Majerovitz et al. 1997). Lack of information can also lead to incorrect behaviour. Sometimes no information is given at all, or it is given only orally and is thus easily forgotten (Browne et al, 2000; Giacalone et al, 2007). Even when asking questions, the patient does not always obtain answers from health professionals (McKenzie 2002). Physicians might think that the patients do not even want to know, especially when it comes to elderly patients and serious illness (Giacalone et al, 2007). In some cases, different doctors give different advice on how to live, which makes patients confused (Hirvensalo et al, 2005; Laitinen et al, 1999).

In Nigeria, there is constitutional provisions made for the physically challenged persons in general but there has been no national coordinating effort to meet the demands of the elderly, as the challenges for information provision has been carried out by private organizations, NGOs, philanthropic organizations and missionaries.

Just like the middle age persons, the information resources made available for the elderly are:

The library Large Print Collections Radio Tape Recorder Television Sets Optical Aids Elderly Age Grade Groups Family Members and Friends

These are some of the sources of information resources for the elderly. Public libraries and institutions serving the

elderly have to find out new ways of working together. That’s why it is so important that somewhere in a home for the elderly there’s an attractive and comfortable place where library materials can be displayed and be easily accessible.

In Nigeria, libraries have not put into consideration the adequate provision of resources for the elderly persons. (Bramly, 2000) made suggestions for library building, that:

There should be mapped out portions as resource center of the elderly

The room should be isolated to reduce the effect of noise.

The library building should be designed with ramps for easy access into the building.

These resources are what should be adequately provided for the elderly but as a result of certain factors they cannot be met in Nigeria. Some of the factors militating against the availability and use of these resources as stated by Atinmo (2000) include:

The problem of equity in the provision of reading materials for the elderly visually impaired and their sighted counterparts.

The lack of adequate large prints publishers (If any) in Nigeria

Lack of provisions of funds for the purchase of adequate information resources for the elderly in Nigeria to ease their access to information needs.

For Williams (1995), the factors which causes a lot of problems for the elderly is that:

Most of the elderly have health issues and little finance to take care of their health because of majority of them if not all is retired.

For Agbeje (2000) the factor which causes problems for the elderly visually impaired are:

For the building, there is no application of building standards to ensure maximum ease of access to the building. Hand Railing should be provided in all library buildings and that the arrangements of shelves in most libraries do not consider the movement of the Elderly who are visually impaired.In accordance with Atinmo (2000) said that the government both at federal and state levels see libraries as unproductive institution and they do not provide adequate funding. There is also lack of training in special education for the librarians to meet the needs of the elderly. There is no comprehensive survey of the needs of the elderly so that the library services are not just based on assumptions of the needs of youths and younger adults. Another one is lack of adequate involvement and participation of the elderly in planning services that suits them. In Nigeria, most publishing houses do not want to embark on the production of large prints materials, so that the rate with which the elderly strain their eyes while reading will be reduced. The use of internet in Nigeria is not cheap; therefore the elderly who are mostly retired would shy away from using the internet which is one major source of accessing information for all ages around the world. Conclusively, in the findings of (Williamson et al, 2000), personal factors such as life circumstances, being alone, poverty, or retired, the type of elderly people involved as well as individual information seeking preferences, all influenced the way the elderly access information.

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH DESIGN AND PROCEDURE

INTRODUCTION

This chapter of the research work discusses the various procedures adopted in carrying out the research and its validation.It discusses- The research design, population, the sampling size, the research instruments used, its validation, the method of data collection and the method of data analysis.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The research design adopted in this research is the survey method. To conduct the survey, necessary information and data were collected from both primary and secondary sources of information.

Information was gathered from textbooks, journals, magazines, articles etc. In this study the research has been a field survey of some selected towns and villages.

SOURCES OF DATA GATHERING

The data collected were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Data collected during this process were obtained by the administration of questionnaires to the elderly and oral interview in Ebelle, Igueben and Ewossa community all in Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State.

POPULATION OF THE STUDY

The total working population of the study is 150, 60 elderly from Igueben, 50 elderly from Ebelle and 40 elderly from Ewossa Town. These were chosen as a sample size to reflect the representation opinions of the elderly from each selected towns.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed specifically with multiple choice objective questions to enable the respondents pick among alternative answers when necessary.

However, there were few open- ended questions targeted at enabling the respondents to express themselves through brief writing.

Apart from the questionnaire administered to collect information, structural oral interview was conducted together with personal observation.

VALIDATION OF THE INSTRUMENT

The questionnaire was given to my project supervisor, Mr. E.N.O Adimorah to face validation. Necessary corrections were made and adjusted suitable for the project before it was administered on the sample population.

RELIABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT

A pre test was conducted among my course mates; questionnaires were shared among them to enable the respondents pick among the alternative answers and expressed themselves through brief writing to check the reliability of the instrument.

ADMNINISTRATION OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

One hundred (100) questionnaires were administered, in the special selected towns. A total number of one hundred questionnaires were completely filled and returned which represent 100% response rate. Structural Oral interview was conducted among fifty (50) illiterate’s respondents with personal observation in the special selected towns

CHAPTER FOUR

Data Analysis, Presentation of results and discussion of findings.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS

TABLE 1: - SEX OF RESPONDENTS

SEX NO OF RESPONDENT PERCENTAGE (%) OF RESPONDENTS

MALE 90 60%FEMALE 60 40%TOTAL 150 100%

Table 4.1:- Shows that most of the respondents were male consisting 60 (60%) while the females constitute 40 (40%) of the total respondents.

TABLE 2:- AGE OF RESPONDENTS

AGE 60-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 80 and Above

TOTAL %

55 38 27 20 10 150 100%

Table 4.2:- Shows that the respondent between ages of 60-65 constitutes 55 (36.6%). Respondents between ages of 66-70 constitute 38 (25%) while respondent between ages of 71-75 constitute 27 (18%), Respondents ages between 76-80 constitute 20 (13%) and respondents of the age of 80 and above constitutes 10 (6.6%) of the total population.

DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS

I used two tables for each of the research questions representing both the literates and illiterates elderly. Hundred (100) questionnaires were distributed to the literate’s elderly and structural oral interview was used for fifty (50) illiterates.

RESEARCH QUESTION 1: What are the information needs of the Elderly in Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria?

Table 1 (A): Information Needs of the Literates Elderly

INFORMATION NEEDS NO OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTSHEALTH CONDITIONS 100 100%LIFE DECISIONS 100 100%PENSION/ FINANCE 60 60%GOVERNMENT MATTERS

60 60%

FARMING 10 10%

TRANSPORT 20 20%

The above table shows that the nature of health condition, life decision, information on recreational interest which cut across traveling, reading, gardening were the key needs of the respondents with 100 (100%), while information on Pension/finance of the elderly respondents were 60 (60%) while 60 (60%) were needs on government matters, while 20 (20%), 10 (10%) were needs on transport and farming respectively.

However, the every day life of the Elderly, respondents were almost like those of younger persons in the community.

Table 1 (B): Information Needs of the illiterates Elderly. (ORAL INTERVIEW)

INFORMATION NEEDS OF ILLITRATES ELDERLY

NO OF RESPONDENT % OF RESPONDENT

HEALTH CONDITION 50 100%LIFE DECISION 40 80%FARMING 50 100%GOVERNMENT MATTERS

10 20%

FINANCE 50 100%TRANSPORT 20 40%

The above table shows the information needs of the illiterate’s elderly. The table shows that health condition, farming and finance were key needs of the respondents with 50 (100%), while information on life decision is 40 (80%) while information on transport is 20 (40%), 10 (20%) were needs on government matters.

RESEARCH QUESTION 2: How do the Elderly in Nigeria demand for information to satisfy their information needs?

TABLE 2 (A): INFORMATION DEMAND OF LITERATES ELDERLY

INFORMATION DEMAND

NO OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTS

PHYSICIAN AND NURSES

100 100%

RADIO AND TELEVISION

100 100%

FAMILY MEMBERS, RELATIONS AND FRIENDS

100 100%

NEWS PAPERS, BOOKS/ MAGAZINES

100 100%

INTERNET 10 10%VISIT TO YOUNGER MEMBERS

20 20%

SPORT CENTERS 10 10%LIBRARY 10 10%

In the above table 2, Radio/ Television, family members, physician, book, magazine, newspaper emerged the most important means through which the elderly demand for information to meet their needs with a % of 100 (100%) then 10 (10%) visit the internet and shopping center, 10 (10%) visit sport centers and 10 (10%) visit libraries and information centers.

TABLE 2 (B): INFORMATION DEMAND OF THE ILLITRATES ELDERLY

INFORMATION DEMAND

NO OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTS

PHYSICIAN AND NURSES

10 20%

FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIONS

50 100%

RADIO AND TELEVISION (VERNACULAR NEWS)

40 80%

TOWN CRIERS 50 100%PALACES 40 80%MARKET SQUARE 30 60%VISIT TO YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY

20 40%

FRIENDS, CLUBS/ MEETING MEMBERS

30 60%

TRADITIONAL HEALER AND HERBALIST

45 90%

In the above table 2 (B), family members, town criers, emerged the most important means through which the illiterate elderly demand for information to meet their needs with a percentage of 50 (100%), then 45 (90%) visit to traditional healers/ herbalist, while visit to the palace and listening to vernacular news on radio and television have a percentage of 40 (80%), while 30 (60%) visit the market square, while friends, club/ meeting members 30 (60%), visit the younger members of the society has a percentage of 20 (40%), and 10 (20%) visit to orthodox physicians and nurses.

RESEARCH QUESTION 3

To what use do the elderly in Nigeria put the information obtained?

Table 3 (A): INFORMATION USE OF LITERATE ELDERLY

INFORMATION USE No OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTS

To understand a particular situation

100 100%

To get fact about something 100 100%To know what and how to do something

100 100%

Confirm another item of information

60 60%

Project future events 15 15%Develop Relationships 40 40%

Table 3:- Shows that the elderly use information to know what and how to do and operate new modern trends, get facts about something and to understand a particular situation with a percentage of 100 (100%) respectively.

Others use information to develop relationships 40 (40%), to project future events 15 (15%), to confirm another item of information 60 (60%).

Table 3 (B): INFORMATION USE OF ILLITERATE ELDERLY

INFORMATION USE OF THE ILLITERATES

NO OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENT

TO UNDERSTAND A PARTICULAR SITUATION

50 100%

TO GET FACT ABOUT SOMETHING

50 100%

TO KNOW WHAT AND HOW TO DO SOMETHING

50 100%

CONFIRM ANOTHER ITEM OF INFORMATION

30 60%

PROJECT FUTURE EVENT

10 20%

Table 3 (B) Shows that the illiterate’s elderly use information to understand a particular situation just like the literates, they also use information to get facts about something and to know what and how to do something with a percentage of 50 (100%) respectively. Others use information to confirm another item of information 30 (60%), to project future events 10 (20%).

RESEARCH QUESTION 4: What are the information communication technologies made available for the elderly in Nigeria to aid their accessibility of information?

TABLE 4 (A): ICT FOR THE LITERATES ELDERLY

ICT No OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTSRADIO AND TELEVISION

100 100%

DVD’S, VCD PLAYERS 100 100%TAPE RECORDER 100 100%COMPUTER 10 10%INTERNET SERVICES 15 15%BROWSING WITH HANDSET

20 20%

Table 4: Shows that there are ICTs made available for the elderly, which is obvious in Radio and Television, Tape recorder, DVDS, VCD Players with a percentage of 100%, while computer is 10 (10%), internet services is 15 (15%) while browsing with handset is 20 (20%).

TABLE 4 (B): ICT FOR THE ILLITERATES ELDERLY

ICT FOR THE ILLITERATES

NO OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTS

RADIO/ TAPE RECORDER

50 100%

DVD’S, VCD PLAYERS 25 50%TELEVISION 25 50%

Table 4 (B); - Shows that there are ICTs made available for the illiterate elderly also which is obvious in radio/ tape recorder with percentage of 50 (100%), while DVD’s, VCD players and Television is 25 (50%) respectively.

RESEARCH QUESTION 5: What are the factors militating against the availability and accessibility of information infrastructures and resources?

TABLE 5: Factor militating against the availability and accessibility of information infrastructure and resources

FACTORS No OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTSPERSONAL/ HEALTH FACTORS

100 100%

LACK OF EASE TO LIBRARY

100 100%

PROBLEM OF EQUITY IN MATERIAL SUPPLY

60 60%

INADEQUATE FUNDS 60 60%NON CHALLANT ATTITUDE OF LIBRARY

20 20%

STAFFOTHERS 20 20%

From the above table 5, Factors militating against the availability and accessibility of information infrastructures and resources includes Personal/ health factors and Lack of ease to library which both constitutes 100 (100%), problem of equity in material supply and inadequate funds both constitutes 60 (60%), while problem of non- challant attitude of library and staff constitutes 20 (20%), other factors constitutes 20 (20%).

TABLE 5 (B): Factor militating against the availability and accessibility of information infrastructure and resources for the illiterate’s elderly

FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST THE ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION

NO OF RESPONDENTS % OF RESPONDENTS

PERSONAL/ HEALTH FACTOR

50 100%

INADEQUATE FUNDS 50 100%IGNORANCE 30 60%NATURE OF DISABILITY

30 60%

Table 5 (B) shows that the key factors militating against the availability and accessibility of information infrastructure and resources for the illiterates elderly are personal/ health factors and Inadequate funds with a percentage of 50 (100%), while ignorance and nature of disability have a percentage of 30 (60%) respectively.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

The following results were obtained from the 100 questionnaires distributed to the literate’s elderly and 50 oral interviews from the illiterates that were analyzed.

Table 1 A-B: Shows that the information needs of the elderly (illiterate/ literates) in our society include needs for information on health condition, information on life decisions, recreational interest such as gardening, reading, traveling etc. Also Pension/ Finance, Government matters are very vital to the literate elderly as they need more information in these areas, while information on farming and local transport are vital to the illiterates elderly as need require more information on these areas. It was however revealed that the everyday life information needs of the respondents were much like those of younger persons in the community.

Table 2 A-B: It was revealed that the easiest ways in which the elderly (literates/ illiterates) meet their information needs is through listening to Radio, watching Television, listening to discussions from family members, relatives, friends, and younger members of the society. Also information is demanded by the literate elderly from reading Newspapers, magazines, books and library services/ Internet. The table also revealed that the elderly meet their health information needs by visiting a Physician/ Nurse, traditional healers and herbalist.

Table 3 A-B: Shows the usage of information by the elderly and it was discovered that the elderly use information to know what and how to do and operate modern technologies, understand a particular situation, get facts about something, develop relationships (Chatting through SMS, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER, motivate or sustain personal involvement, confirm another item of information, project future events and to develop content.

Table 4 A-B: Revealed that ICT infrastructures such as browsing with Handset, Internet services, CD and Tape Recorders, Radio/ TV, computers, were made available for the elderly (literates/ illiterates) to help in satisfying their information needs. Table 5 A-B: It was discovered in table 5 that there are factors militating against the accessibility and availability of information infrastructures and resources. Factors revealed include lack of maximum ease to access the library, high cost of internet usage, inadequate provision of funds, inequality in the provision of reading materials and personal; factors such as nature of disability and ignorance.

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations.

SUMMARY OF THE STUDY

This study was undertaken primarily to find out the information needs, demand, use, and information seeking behaviour, information communication technologies made available for the elderly as well as the factors militating against the accessibility and availability of information resources for the elderly. The elderly from the study are people of ages between 65 and above. It was established that the information need of the elderly are likely to include information on health conditions, life decisions, pension/ finance, government matters and recreational interest. Also the elderly like the younger counterparts visit various places in demand of information to meet their information needs like the library, physicians/ nurses, herbalist and traditional rulers, palaces, town criers as well as friends, relatives and younger members of the community. There are also some Information Communication Technologies made available to the elderly which include Handsets, Radio/ Television, computers, internet as well as some reading aids and tape recorders. Factors militating against the availability and accessibility of information are personal/ health factors, lack of ease to the library, problem of equity of materials, inadequate funds, non challant attitude of library staff and other factors.

CONCLUSION

Troup (1985), conducted a research on the information needs of people aged 50 and above in Scotland to know the areas these target group need more information. He used a questionnaire survey and his study discovered that the most frequent needs of the elderly are money, housing, leisure opportunities and health matters.

In my own research, the needs of the elderly include finance, health conditions, housing and recreational activities. Meaning my research corresponded with the research of Troup in 1985.

Gladden, 2000 conducted a research to find out how rural elderly and their family gather health information in the United Kingdom. Gladden’s studies found that the elderly Population looked to direct communication from their physicians. In my own study, the elderly both literates and illiterates gather health information by visiting a physician, nurse, herbalist and traditional healers. My research is in agreement with the research of Gladden in 2000.

The information needs of the elderly are almost the same like their younger counterparts, where information is needed to take life decision, major issues regarding their health, recreational interest, pension/ finances, government matters etc. They demand for information to meet their information needs, the elderly visit libraries/ information centers, listen to vernacular programmes on radio and television, and visit family members, relatives and younger members in the community where they live. The information obtained are used by the elderly to understand a particular situation, to get fact about something, to know what and how to do something, confirm another item of information, project future events and develop relationship etc. The study also show that there are some ICT devices made available for the elderly like computers, CD and tape recorders, handsets, internet services, radio and television etc. The research findings have shown that the elderly in trying to satisfy their information needs are faced with problems of accessing information resources. The government has not made any major impact in solving some of the identified problems. The treatment meted to pensioners in the Country is not fair. Net work fluctuations, no

large print publishers, there is therefore inequality in the production of information resources between the elderly and their younger counterparts.

RECOMMENDATIONS

From all the foregoing, the following could be recommended:

That further research should be carried out on the information seeking behaviour of the elderly.

Prompt payment of pension allowance to enable the elderly have enough finances to purchase the necessary information resources as well as take care of their health.

The government should encourage large print publishers or establish such printing establishments.

The government should subsidize optical and reading aids for easy affordability by the elderly

Equity of information resources. Internet access should be made very cheap Programmes that will interest the elderly should be

included in the daily broadcast over the radio, television, magazines and newspapers.

Handsets for the elderly should have large buttons and should be very loud.

Physicians and nurses should answer the queries of the elderly in a very simple manner that will be understandable by them.

Family members, relatives and friends should not be far from the elderly because they are one of major source of information for the elderly.

News translation in vernacular languages should be transmitted always on radio and television to keep the illiterate elderly informed.

REFERENCES

Adelowo, T. O. and Daramola, T. O. (2002) The role of ICT in distance Education for exceptional special people.

United Nation Population Division, 1998 Revision

Tinker, A., McCreadie, C., and Salvage, A (1992) The information Needs of the Elderly people. An Exploratory study. London: Age Concern institute of Gerontology.

Todd, H. (1984). The Information Needs of Newly Retired People. Health Libraries Reviews. Vol. 1. p 22 0 35

Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2001) 6th Edition.

Nigeria Population Census, 2006

Senator Iroegbu., (2007) Nigeria Caring for the Aged http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/world/2007/nigeria.aged.htm

Wilson, T.D (1980, 1981) On user studies and information needs. Journal of Documentation. Vol. 37 (1), p 3-15

Fullner, S., Majunder, R.K. (1991) Increased access and use of disability Related information for consumer. Journal of Rehabilitation, 57, July- Sept. P. 17 – 22.

Atinmo, M.I. (2000) Availability and Accessibility of Library resources For the visually handicapped in Nigeria: The way forward. Journal of Association of Library for the Visually Handicapped (JALVH) Vol. 1, No. 1 May 2000 pg. 15- 22

NYTimes – Sensors Help Keep the Elderly Safe, and at Home- NYTimes 2009, 13th February, www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/us/13senior.html?pagewanted=1

Eriksson, k., Badka, (2008) Access to health information: Perception of Barriers among the elderly in a language of minority. IRinformation Research Vol. 12. No. 4. Dec, 2008.

Azeez, M. A (2002) The role of ICT in special education distance Learning programmes.

Gene Bellinger et. al. Data, information, knowledge and Wisdoms- http://www.systems-thinking.org/dikw.htm

Wikipedia- Information seeking behaviour http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/information_seeking_behavior

Kirsty Williamson, Don Schauder, 2000- Information seeking by blind and sight impaired citizens: ecological study, Vol. 5 No. 4 http://informationr.net/ir/5-4/paper79.html

Karunarathna, Amanda, 2008 Information seeking behaviour of University Teachers in Sri Lanka in the field of management Studies- http://eprints.rclis.org/handle/10760/12699